Somerset cancer mum's appeal to buy home hits target

Elisa-Marie Henley was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in 2014

A fundraising appeal set up by a mother with terminal cancer has raised enough money to help buy the family home.

Elisa-Marie Henley, 38, from Somerset, said she was "lost for words" after the appeal exceeded its £13,000 target.

Mrs Henley and husband Jason were given the chance to buy the house they have rented for six years, but could not afford the deposit.

The mother-of-three said she would "be able to move on peacefully" knowing the house belongs to her family.

Mrs Henley, from Street, who is mother to Grace, 10, Esme-Rose, seven, and Zoe, four, was encouraged by a friend to set up the appeal.

Mrs Henley says she can 'move on peacefully' knowing the house belongs to her family

Over £14,000 has so far been raised meaning the couple have enough money for the deposit for the mortgage.

It was shared on social media with comedian Rufus Hound tweeting about the appeal during the Strictly Come Dancing final on Saturday.

'So humbling'

"I am lost for words really," she said. "Rufus picked it up and ran with it. It's hard for me to understand. It's so humbling. I didn't think it would take off like this."

Mrs Henley was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was pregnant with her youngest daughter in July 2013.

She underwent several rounds of radiotherapy treatment and was found to be clear of the disease in October 2014.

However, in December of that year she was told the cancer had returned and was incurable.

The disease has since spread to her liver and Mrs Henley said her health has now "deteriorated quite badly".

"I genuinely thought it would take months to get a few hundreds pounds and we've [raised] over £14,000 in three days," Mrs Henley added.

"It's just mind-boggling, it really is."